Why We Love The National Building Museum

D.C.

The National Building Museum is one of the most unique cultural establishments in Washington, DC, and well worth a visit on your next trip. Located on F Street, it is dedicated to celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning with a collection of permanent exhibits, rotating new ones, and a fantastic calendar of events.

These are some examples of what we love most at The National Building Museum.

The Building Itself

Washington is no stranger to grand edifices, but the Building Museum is truly a masterpiece. Constructed in 1887 as the federal Pension Bureau, it’s got a massive central atrium with towering columns.

Architectural Models

Tiny recreations of grand constructions, the museum’s collection of over 100 architectural models is one of its most interesting and popular attractions. This collection was built for over a century, having models added from 1905 to 2010, showing works by Gehry Partners, I.M. Pei and other architectural giants.

The American Brick Collection

The American Brick Collection takes a close and intimate look at one of the most popular and widely used construction materials in the history of mankind. The collection contains 1,800 bricks, most of which are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each brick is stamped with the manufacturer’s name and logo, providing a fascinating insight into the literal building blocks of our country.

Philip Hubert Frohman Architectural Drawings

Philip Hubert Frohman was the famous architect who designed the Washington National Cathedral among many other historic buildings. This collection features over 4,000 historic architectural drawings from Frohman, as well as over 600 photographs and promotional renderings for projects he produced.

New Exhibitions

An ongoing exhibition series brings fascinating, structure-focused shows to Washington. Some of the more intriguing current exhibitions include Secret Cities, which is an immersive look into the architecture and planning of the Manhattan Project, and Evicted, an eye-opening look into low-income housing and eviction in the U.S.

The Events

The National Building Museum also has a fun and well-curated events calendar, which is filled with tours, readings, and unique events like yoga in the museum’s Great Hall.

Discover More of Capitol Hill

Get the insider’s guide to Capitol Hill DC—from the best places to eat to the must-know shops—on our DC destination blog!

Capitol Hill Hotel, Washington D.C.

Capitol Hill Hotel is located in the heart of the Capitol Hill, one of the most prestigious addresses in the nation’s capital and the largest residential historic district in Washington, DC. From here, embark on a journey through America’s heritage via the National Mall, from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial with stops along the way at the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington Monument, and everything in between. In the other direction, delight in the joys of Capitol Hill’s residential neighborhood, bustling with street fairs, boutique shops, and art galleries galore. Take the family to a baseball game at Nationals Park or for a day of shopping at Eastern Market, Capitol Hill’s diverse cultural hub brimming with artisans, jewelers, farmers, and food vendors from all around the world. End the day with a stroll down Barracks Row, the oldest commercial district in D.C., to indulge in delicious local eats and friendly neighborhood bars.